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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Every month I pick out the top five books I read that month. This month was completely full of awesome books - both new releases and older books. You can see the whole list of books I read by clicking on my "Read in 2012" tab. I read so much this month and this list was a little difficult to generate. A couple, like Under the Never Sky, were no-brainers, but others had to beat out competition. So here's my top five, most awesome reads from January.

1. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

I finished this book almost a week ago and I haven't been able to read. It was that amazing. I was afraid it would be disappointing after it was so hyped up, but it exceeded every expectation I had. If it wasn't only January and if I wasn't an optimist, I'd say this is the best book I'll read all year.

2. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

A heartbreaking end to a heartbreaking series. I'm going to miss Calla and the pack so much. Check out my review here.

3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

I didn't really know a lot going into this book, but it looked adorable. Plus, I'll probably pick up any book with an English boy. Anyways this turned out to be so wonderful. It had great literary layers that I didn't expect. Read my review here.

4. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

I finally got around to reading Angelfire and it was fabulous. I had so many Buffy flashbacks while reading this book, so naturally I freaking loved it. Ellie is like a ninja and then she has the angel version of Batman to back her up. How do you not love that? Read my review here.

5. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

I just wish I was friends with Clara. And Tucker. And even Christian. I have so much love for these characters - they kind of are friends (she says without trying to sound like she doesn't have real friends...I do, I swear). I laughed and sobbed my way through this book and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Clara. Read my review here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Synopsis: All Chelsea wants to
do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an
ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her
heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical
Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too.
Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even
when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should
have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village
could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her
new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s
got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from
the past are doomed to repeat it… (From Goodreads)

This might be the cutest book. Ever. This is the kind of book that you keep around to return to when you've had a really bad day and you need something to cheer you up. It's like watching When Harry Met Sally when you're nostalgic or watching TheNotebook when you need to cry. When you want to be happy, read Past Perfect. I think I grinned through 3/4ths of this novel - either for its extreme cuteness or because the sense of humor was just perfect.

I picked up this book because of the cover (no shame) and for its premise. A teen girl who grew up working at a colonial reenactment village? Genius. First, it's a summer job, so it's full of teens - which equals plenty of drama. And what makes it even more marvelous is that there's another historical reenactment village right across the street. So there's a rivalry. It's all the things you love to see in a good contemporary novel, but it's all fresh and fun and wonderful. And, nearly the whole book takes place in costume.

The best part about the setting is it allows the great juxtaposition of the past and present happening at the same time. This is the genius of the book. It's all about leaving the past in the past, but still knowing or trying to find out what happened in order to learn from it. Or moving forward when you still have ties to that past. Then there's that moment where she brings up something you've always known but haven't been able to put into words. Leila Sales talks about our revisionist records of the past - she puts it into the perfect context so that the concept is graspable (if that's a word). It comes down to - we remember the past how we want to. And Leila Sales opens up that door to rethink the past and what we remember.

If you love contemporary, or even if you read it but don't pick it up very often, I definitely recommend this book. It's just so wonderful - and I know that I'll be revisiting it again someday. It still makes me smile just thinking about it.

So here's the deal. I'm thinking there are a lot of great sequels coming out soon. One (1) winner will receive their choice of the following sequels. If the book has not been released yet I will pre-order it for you. If you win and really would rather

have the first book in one of these series, I'd be good with that.

Alright, the details:

One (1) winner will get his/her choice of one (1) of the sequels listed above.

You must be 13 or older to enter.

This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but it is always appreciated!

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.

This contest will run until February 1, 12:01 AM.

Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

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Synopsis: Eden didn’t expect Az.Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.Yeah.So long happily-ever-after.Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.And that’s only the beginning of the end. (From Goodreads)

This is not a cheery book. It's gritty, a bit vulgar, and completely angry. Which, ultimately, equals awesome. Mostly because it fits so well. Eden is a character I don't feel like I've read before. She's completely in command, a little frightening, strong-willed, smart, and prone to hissy-fits. Even those things don't completely describe her - because after this whole book - I feel like I don't know her (or any of the characters really). And I'm not saying this in a bad way - I'm saying that she kept me on my toes - I was always surprised at her reactions and decisions. Every time I thought I'd figured her out, it seemed like she'd changed the game.

Not gonna lie. The beginning of this book had me very skeptical. I was really afraid that it would just be over the top and melodramatic. It started a little rushed, and a little too quick. I was confused for a bit. But there's a point - and you don't realize it's happened until later - that everything shakes into place and then you find that you've been completely sucked in for the last 100 pages with out even knowing it.

Another thing that was surprisingly fresh about this book was the plot. I've begun to notice a similarity in plot arcs. Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy. Boy reveals big problem. Boy and girl can't be together because of said problem. Boy and girl are likely attacked a few times. Then there's a big, huge showdown at the end. There's a curveball thrown in - not necessarily to shock, but to keep the reader in a state of curiosity so they'll read the next book. I didn't get that with this book. This plot was chaotic and it didn't always make sense. BUT again, I say this as a good thing. Because really, life doesn't happen in neat arcs. It's hard to explain the pattern of this plot, but then again, it doesn't really have a pattern. Which, just like Eve's character, kept me on my toes.

The thing is, these characters are kind of the bad guys. Which, I had to stop and remind myself of that a few times. The reason they're still relatable, the reason they are redeemed is because they don't choose to be bad (depending on which way you look at it). The more I read of these characters the more I fell for them. A Touch Morbid is the second book in this series will be out February 28. (And a little secret - or not so secret - if you pre-order the book from Leah Clifford's local indie, The Learned Owl, you can get a signed, personalized copy -). I also highly recommend following Leah on Twitter - she does live chats quite often and she's fun to watch and talk with - and I always find out about these things through Twitter. But back to the book - I definitely recommend this if you don't mind characters who find their wardrobe in graveyards, evil rockstars, or lots of potentially fatal kissing.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Synopsis: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. (From Goodreads)

This series just keeps getting better. I love how things start out seeming so simple and then suddenly you realize that you only know about this small part in a whole tangle of mess that seems impossible. Unearthly seemed so simple compared to Hallowed and I'm assuming that it's only going to get worse from here. And I love it!

Clara totally makes this series. She's the perfect heroine - because she isn't perfect. She lies, she's a little self-centered, she has tunnel vision in some cases - plus she acts, thinks, and thinks like a normal teenage girl. She sneaks out of the house, gets caught in places she shouldn't be. And what is so great, is that even though she becomes more powerful and more in tune to who she is as an angel and a supernatural being - she still stays that normal teenage girl. She's so grounded and it makes her more of a best friend, than an intimidatingly unapproachable heroine.

Of course, Tucker, is a huge part of this awesomeness of these books. So perfect. Although, I hate to admit it, but Christian actually (very surprisingly) gave him a run for his money at moments. Plus, I love the new characters that pop up in this book as well, and I can't wait to see more of them.

If you read Unearthly keep going. Hallowed lives up to its hype. It's every bit as good as the first book, if not actually better. It's hard to tell, because I think they're both pretty exceptional. I will say that this book is a little more heartbreaking though. I think I cried through half of it - so, just a warning, you may want to be prepared. You know, maybe try not to read it in public.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Synopsis: It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in. And then you're dead. When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. Because how will she go on if there isn't? (From Goodreads)

Not even kidding - ever since I've read this book I've been über paranoid. First, I've been seriously itchy all the time (that sounds gross, I know, but it's not that bad, I swear). I've been having random attacks of the back itches and the face itches (you know, when I have my gloves on and can't effectively itch). The itch you can't shake is the first stage of this disease. The next is the tickle in the throat...uhhhh....yeah. But all these things can be explained because of other things. Then I started coughing today and I was just like - ok, this is it, I have the virus and I'm going to die.

I'm such a hypochondriac sometimes.

But this isn't about me (at least not all the time) - this is about the book. Which, I ultimately had mixed feelings about. It's written in an epistolary/journal style, which I'm not always fond of. However, I really feel like that works here. I think a lot of people, including myself, have written those letters-I'll-never-send and that's what this whole book starts out as. It starts as a way to heal what broke in Kaelyn after a friendship/potentially-more-than-friendship ends. It's in those crucial first pages, when it's more of a letter than a journal, that I really connected with Kaelyn and came to care about her.

But in the end I was really confused and I didn't feel satisfied with the way it ended. I had so many questions. I get that you don't always get answers and often answers are left out on purpose - generally, I'm pretty down with that - but in this case it felt more like something was lacking, rather than being purposefully unanswered.

I could say great things about this book and I can point out things that I really didn't like. This is one that I'm on the fence about and I don't see myself swinging one way or the other. I do have to say that, even so, I read it about a week ago and I'm still thinking about it (even if it is just every time I get an itch or I cough). Books that are like this - the ones that deal with disastrous situations - always make you wonder what you would do if it were you. If nothing else, The Way We Fall, puts you there and - well, I kind of wonder. Are you the one who does everything possible to help? Do you steal food? Do you shoot people like they're zombies? Do you become desperate and reckless? It's interesting to think about, but not ever something you want to test.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Synopsis: Calla has always
welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at
stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s
wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor.
There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors,
and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then
there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out
alive, that is.
In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times
bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns
that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A
dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.

I've been worrying for days about what I was going to say about this
last installment in the Nightshade trilogy - it's so huge, and it feels so important, that anything I have to say will never quite be enough. So I've decided that I'm not
going to do a traditional review for this one - instead, I'm going to
just going to mention a few things.
I'm so utterly heartbroken. This whole series sent me through crazy emotions, complete pain and frustration, and it devastated me. And I'm so in love with it. It must be some masochist thing, because Andrea Cremer can torture me anytime. Seriously. I don't know how often I ever felt elated, or hopeful, or any kind of positive emotion towards the last two books, but I was just so addicted. Every good moment had a tinge of something else that was lost or jeopardized. I ended this series with that conflicting - I'm so glad to know how it ends, but I already miss these characters so much.

That's all I'm really going to say. I feel closure, but I'm still mourning the end of this trilogy. I really can't wait to see what Andrea Cremer writes next because I'll read anything she writes.
And if you haven't started reading this series yet - you need to drop everything your doing and get to it.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Synopsis: First there are nightmares.Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering
something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic,
and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her
seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's
power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in
the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole
lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend
anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and
kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the
dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also
hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too
frightening to remember. (From Goodreads)

I actually picked up this book because of all the raving about it's sequel, Wings of the Wicked that is coming out at the end of January. Not to mention, Ellie and Will are nominated in a few categories for the Best of 2011 over at the Story Siren. So I knew there was going to be some great things going on in this book and it lived up to all its hype.

I intended to just spend the morning reading, but pretty soon I was ripping through this book and didn't put it down until I had finished. First of all, I freaking love Ellie. There is nothing weak about this girl - she has like ninja super powers, but she's still so human and relatable. She's vulnerable, but not so much that you worry about her falling prey to the wrong kind of people. And Will, I love that this boy literally exists to protect and serve Ellie, but he's not clingy or around all the time. Ellie calls him Batman all the time, so, of course, I totally pictured a blonde Christian Bale.

There aren't any nice-playing, change of heart demons here. There are monsters and evil plots that Ellie has to face and she does the job wonderfully. She definitely struggles, but she always steps up to the challenge. There was more than one time where I made connections to Buffy - seeing as in both cases we're talking about the one person who has the power to vanquish evil. Any connection to Buffy is automatic awesome.

I can already see why people would be raving about Wings of the Wicked and I can't wait to see where Ellie and Will are taken next.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old high
school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been
admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she
has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of
making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio,
disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant,
her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks
while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is
running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.When
Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret
network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way.
She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted
math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when
Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all,
the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is
suddenly too powerful to ignore.Soon Shannon's caught up in a
web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high
school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is
the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold? (From Goodreads)

I adore Lauren Barnholdt. I fell in love with Two-Way Street and I feel like I can always count on her for enjoyable, quick reads. I think it's really great when I find books that should be nothing like my life, but they totally are. Which is what this was. I mean, there's no way I'm good enough at math to count cards, not to mention I'm scared to death to even sit down at a poker table. But still there were moments when I couldn't help but notice that Shannon and I had some things in common.

First, my friends and I occasionally used to pass the time by playing penny poker in the summer after we'd all gotten off work. We would sit at a picnic table in town and friends would randomly come by and join in. Those nights were among some of my best high school memories. I also related to Shannon's relationship with Max, except those two were definitely on a different timeline that I was. I think if I had read this book 5 years ago, I would have been freaking out about the similarites. This book deals mostly with working through your issues, working hard and doing it the right way. Shannon tries to take the easy way out and she winds up with a lot of trouble coming her way. If you ever need something light to read, something that doesn't take energy, but doesn't turn your brain to mush, either - I recommend reading Lauren Barnholdt. I liked Two-Way Street and The One Night that Changes Everything better, but Aces Up is worth a read.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Book Blogger Confessions is a new meme hosted by Tiger's All Consuming Media or For What It's Worth. What is it? It's a meme that allows bloggers to weigh in on a topic, talk about or own blogging experiences and maybe vent a little. This time we're talking about reading/blogging slumps. The question: Have you ever had reading/blogging slumps? How do you work through them or work around them?

Well, I have to say that I think I'm just coming out of a slump. This last semester, I was going crazy. I was teaching for the first time, trying to keep up in grad classes that I just didn't care about anymore, and dealing with an upcoming backwards move. I was trying to figure out what I wanted out of life (still don't know) and I was just not a happy person for awhile. My bright light was (and is) young adult literature and I clung to it. Even so, with all this going on in the background, the reading and blogging was starting to feel like a chore. I was putting off reading books and if you were visiting my blog about a month ago, I had a list of Upcoming Reviews that was about 10 books long. Some of my reviews suffered because I wrote them so long after I read the book. I was just trying to get through from one day to another - both on the blog and in life.

Then for awhile I had to seriously examine why I was doing this - the blogging thing. When I started it seemed like such an obvious thing for me to do. But there's been so much negativity floating around lately, to the point where I'm nervous posting anything. Honestly, with the way some people talk on Twitter, I'm waiting for someone to tear into something that I do. I really hate that feeling that I have to be so careful about the way that I'm running my own blog that I feel like I'm holding back or trying to fit into a box, and sometimes it is too much pressure. But then I go back to why I started and it was to write my thoughts on the book I was reading (because my memory is short) and it was a way to hold myself accountable to recording my reactions. And of course, it's a way to share the books that I love with anyone I possibly can. While it's important what others think of my blog - I want people to feel comfortable visiting, free to comment, and I definitely don't want to make someone cranky - I've come to realize that there is always plenty of criticism out there, and I just have to keep going and remember that I'm doing this for the books and authors I love and the readers who are looking for the next amazing read.

In some ways I still am in this weird limbo place where I don't know where I'm going - but I'm not teaching anymore or taking classes, so I feel hugely relieved in some respects. I've been able to just curl up and read. Plus, I spent Christmas vacation shortening my to-be-reviewed list and cranking out posts. By New Years I was completely caught up and I started the new year with a fresh slate. Even better, my incredibly talented little brother helped me put up a new design for the blog and I'm so happy with the way it looks now. (How do you get out of a slump? Get a makeover!) Now I'm getting back into memes, I'm keeping up with my reviews and happily working my way through my TBR pile.

Ok - apparently I had more to say than I thought I did. But what do you think? Have you ever been in a slump? Reading, blogging or otherwise? How do you get through?

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Synopsis: Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life-coach father—a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother—an f.g.—and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

This book had a ton of potential - it was a great idea - and it had moments that felt like they held importance. But much of it was fashioned as a sieve and those important moments fell through very quickly. It started out so strong - it felt carefully planned, tightly written, and the protagonist was one that had awesome power (even if it was only in saying whatever she wanted to say), but it felt like as the story went on the threads were knit together more loosely.

I love the idea of telling a story about a fairy godmother - but I wanted to know more about where their magic came from and why there are few fairy godmothers left. The magic, though, was so much fun. Watching Delaney practice was the best part of this book. There were great moments where she's trying to help people with small magic and she's stalking around trying to practice magical movements. It was like watching an episode of I Love Lucy - if Lucy were 15 and liked to wear black. I kept thinking that this would probably be a great TV show - there's great comedy and something really great in a gothic - I hate the world - kind of girl who has to fix other people's problems.

One thing that did really bother me was the fact that the book jumps off when Delany's mother dies and she has to move from New Jersey to Southern California to live with her estranged father. I figured her tough girl act was a front to try to deal with the death of her mother. I expected her to confront those feelings once her walls started to come down, but it rarely goes there. It didn't feel at all like her mother died and it feels a little wrong that that aspect was so glossed over.

I do wish this story had been fleshed out more - there could have been more elaboration and it has the potential to be a really rich story. However, the one thing it tries to get across is eventually apparent, only because it's repeated quite a bit. That is that getting to know people is to open yourself up to others - and that people might surprise you with all the things the keep hidden under the surface. I'd recommend it to both fans of fantasy or contemporary, as it blends the two - and I encourage you to read it for yourself (as I'm realizing now that my issues with the book may be because I read it with the wrong age group in mind - it may be better suited for middle grade readers).

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Synopsis: When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

It seems like this book is EVERYWHERE lately and I love it. It makes total sense - not only is the story unique - the author herself has an incredible self-empowering story. The Trylle series was self-published and a huge success. Switched was just recently released through St. Martin's press and the other books in the series will be released in February and March. I think I would have picked this book up eventually - I'm running into it all over the place, and have you seen that cover? It's so gorgeous and mesmerizing.

But this book was bumped to the top of my reading list because it takes place in Minnesota. I actually watched the trailer and paused it when I thought I saw a flash of Minnesota - and funnily enough, I stopped it on the Minnesota State Mental Ward sign. Which means I was so in. I take to anything that is set in Minnesota because, obviously, I relate. I'm proud of where I'm from and sometimes I think my entire state is just a story waiting to happen - so it makes me happy when people tap into the stories this place holds.

I also loved that Amanda Hocking creates a fantasy that could have been lost in the slush of stereotypes, but she doesn't ever give into that. First of all - trolls? Well done. I would have never considered trolls to be a viable fantasy story - and I should have! Even beyond the unique creatures, she still doesn't give into other tropes. Sure, there's the forbidden love, but there are so many other factors that are going on around that relationship that it isn't the main concern. And the ending of this book made me want to applaud - mostly because it seems that this heroine did what never seems to cross any other heroine's mind.

I do have to admit that there were quite a few moments in this book that were lacking. I got the distinct sense that the author had the image in her mind very clearly, but didn't quite portray it completely to the reader. I felt this mostly while Wendy is falling for Finn and Finn is revealing Wendy's identity. A lot of Wendy's internal process is missing, so her decisions feel rushed.

Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds. Here's the trailer for Switched:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Synopsis: When Finley travels to Ireland as a foreign exchange student, she hopes to create a new identity and get some answers from the God who took her brother away and seems to have left her high and dry. But from the moment she boards the plane and sits by Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest vampire flicks, nothing goes according to Finley's plan. When she gets too close to Beckett, a classmate goes on a mission to make sure Finley packs her bags, departs Ireland-and leaves Beckett alone. Finley feels the pressure all around. As things start to fall apart, she begins to rely on a not-so-healthy method of taking control of her life. Finley tries to balance it all-disasters on the set of Beckett's new movie, the demands of school, and her growing romance with one actor who is not what he seems. Yet Finley is also not who she portrays to Beckett and her friends. For the first time in her life, Finley must get honest with herself to get right with God.

I know I've said this before, but I so need to move to Ireland. The reason I was so drawn to this book was because of it's location. Although, it does seem like I'm reading a lot of books about coping with death these days - I'm not really meaning to, they're just sort of falling across my TBR piles and beckoning to me. This particular one impressed me quite a bit, as it wasn't overly preachy and it dealt with life in general, and death is a part of that. This book could have so easily fallen into the trap of stereotypes, but it seemed to actually embrace those stereotypes and turn them into the truth.

During the set-up of Kinley's story, I thought I knew everything that was going to happen. But I still kept reading - why? - because I think this book expertly demonstrates the concept of - it's not the destination, but the journey. I knew where Kinley was headed, but I was so curious how she got there. And near the end I was really surprised at the detours she was taking. I'd expected this book to be about healing - which it is - but it's also about how sometimes things need to get worse before they get better.

The setting is what really makes this book. There are a lot of elements of this book that could easily b cheesy, and I think the fact that this is all happening in the quaint, magical Ireland it all seems so natural. It makes total sense to me that you'd go to Ireland to heal and find that everything is falling apart (which, even though you can't see it at the time, is essential to the healing). I was worried about the normal girl falling for the movie star thing - but I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship (and the subtle digs to the over-the top vampire movie fad). But I think it would be harder to love him in any other setting, if that makes sense. Not to mention, Finely's host family wouldn't be the same in any other place. I loved them all from the moment they picked up Finley at the airport.

This isn't a book like I've read in a very long time. It's clean and very spiritual. It's a great reminder that morals don't have to be compromised to have crazy butterfly feelings. But even in all this it never feels like religion is shoved down your throat and it still takes into consideration that not everything is black and white. There's so much to find in this book, no matter what you are going through in your own life.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Synopsis: Frannie Cavanaugh is a
good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years
keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems
as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc
Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie
can’t seem to stay away from him. What she doesn’t know is that
Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s
soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is
as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to
work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t
be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel
shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came
for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than
just Frannie’s soul.But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

I really wanted to love this book. I've seen nothing but raving about it everywhere, so I was really excited to finally get around to it. And I have to admit, I feel a little let down. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, I just think my expectations were too high going in.

This book is told from both Frannie and Luc's perspective, which I was wary about at first, but then I became very glad it was structured that way. The relationship between them was the core of the book and what really made it good. Their changing dynamics that are influenced both by their own personal feelings and the ulterior motives of Heaven and Hell were fascinating to watch. However, Gabriel was a huge part of this book - Frannie is torn between the two boys - but I don't feel like I ever really knew anything about him. I knew everything about Luc, because we get his perspective, but other than knowing Gabrielle's purpose, there's little indication of what he's thinking or feeling. In that sense it felt a little off balance.

I absolutely loved the first half of the book and went to find a copy of Original Sin within the first 150 pages because I was already anticipating that I was going to want to know what happened next. But by the time I reached the end, I felt a sense of closure and I can't even imagine where it's going to go next. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading, just because I think this book was great on its own, and I'm not curious enough to see where it will go from here.

Personal Demons is the first in a trilogy - Original Sin is the second book and the third, Last Rite, is due for release on May 8, 2012.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Synopsis: Today should be one
of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's
stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place
in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never
even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped
waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C.
Hadley's in 18A. Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in
this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and
first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will
make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it

If I had written down every line that resonated with me, that made my skin tingle, made me sigh, made me fall in love - I would have taken days to finish reading - and in fact - probably would have just copied out the whole book. Even without recording every moment, I still went back and re-read scenes, passages, pages over and over. I needed to savor every moment. And each word that Jennifer E. Smith put into this book was so clearly refined, put there for a specific purpose, every last one working as a small but important piece in a larger picture.

I've never believed in love at first sight. Still don't. I believe you can be attracted to someone right away, that a first attraction can be so intense - unlike anything you've felt before - and that it can turn into love, but I don't believe you can meet someone and instantly be in love. I expected to read this book and think - yup, uh huh, no way that could ever happen. But I didn't. It all felt so natural and it made it feel like love in the future between Hadley and Oliver was a real possibility. I really liked that they spent time talking, getting to know each other and helping one another through difficult circumstances, but they didn't obviously just jump into a relationship because it was instant attraction. Plus, it wasn't really even instant attraction, Hadley hardly notices him at first, but it is an attraction that develops quickly.

Even better, this book had depths that were so unexpected. I think the longer Hadley knows Oliver, the more she heals a part of herself - he's a symbol of her reconciliation of what was still broken within her after her parent's divorce. More unexpectedly, this book is about fathers - and all the flashbacks that Hadley has to a time when she and her father were really close - definitely stirred the tears. I was surprised that even though Hadley lives with her mother, there isn't much about her mother in this book. It's about her dad and coming to terms with the decisions he's made and what their relationship has turned into.

Hadley is an exemplary character, who really comes into herself and grows up through these 24 hours. And of course I can't deny, I freaking love Oliver - I mean, he's British, sarcastic, adorable, and slightly mysterious. I just love this book so much, it makes me happy and teary just thinking about it.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Synopsis: It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants—what she must do—is to bring Danny back.But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her—and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Well, I have to say that this book is thoroughly depressing. Hopeful moments are short and hard to come by. However, it's also incredibly gorgeous. There were sentences that I stopped to read over and over because they were so beautiful. It's a story told with the impression that every word was carefully chosen and placed to convey the exact tone and image.

The plot is subtle, but this book isn't great because of it's plot. It's great because of the writing and because of the internal workings of Wren as she is dealing with loss. She is mourning just like any one else would in her situation, except she has his physical being to deal with. She gets to wrap herself up in him where others might cling to a sweatshirt of a lost loved one at night. I've never had to go through losing someone like this and I'd like to think I'll never have to go through anything like this - but if it ever happens, I think I'd find a friend in Wren. I feel like I went through the grieving process with her - just maybe in a more muted way. The tone was definitely impressive. Dealing with death, raising your dead boyfriend, then having to deal with an empty shell of a person, could so easily be overly-dramatic.

Wren grows in so many ways, she gets through so much, through this entire book - she learns to ask for what she needs and she begins to embrace the people who love her, reminding her that she's still alive and she hasn't lost everything. But the most important lesson is that a lack of knowledge can be completely dangerous. Not understanding something is worse than knowing too much sometimes. Most of Wren's problems originate with her powers. She has these mysterious powers within her that she knows nothing about. Her mother has them too, but refuses to talk about them. This in juxtaposition with the sex-talk she does take the time to have with her daughter, and the refusing to talk about the powers - goes to show how important it is to be open, to inform, to educate.

I recommend this book - but I warn you to only read it if you don't mind reading something a little dreary. It took a little control to get through because everything was just so sad. There is hope by the end, but there's still a lot of pain left over.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Welcome to my stop on the Young Adult Faeries and Fantasy Giveaway Hop. The hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writerand tons of other blogs are participating. To see the full list and hop along for the chance to win some great books go HERE.

So, what's up for grabs here? The first two books in one of my favorite fantasy series -Graceling and Fire! There will be two winners - both will get their choice between the two books.

Graceling and Fire

Alright, the details:

Two (2) winners will get his/her choice of one (1) of the books in The Seven Kingdoms series.

You must be 13 or older to enter.

This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but it is always appreciated!

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.

This contest will run until January 13, 12:01 AM.

Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

P.S. If you feel like commenting - I'd love to know what your favorite fantastical creature is! Mine? - Team Werewolf all the way.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Synopsis: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen

Caralyn, Ramon, and Hannah

I’m really excited about this – it’s the first joint review here at In the Best Worlds. My very good friend, Caralyn is new(ish) to the YA world. She read The Hunger Games this summer and then couldn’t stop – she’s fallen for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Divergent, thoroughly enjoyed The Name of the Star and now she’s making her way through the Shiver series. We both read The Scorpio Races at the same time and we always have awesome book discussions, so I invited her to join me in putting our conversation down in print. She’s turned into one of us YA fanatics, so I’m so happy to welcome her here to share her first review.

(Interesting thing to keep in mind: I read The Scorpio Races after reading and loving the Shiver series. Caralyn read The Scorpio Races first. I don’t know how that would tint the reading, but I’m sure it did somehow – I do think I had higher expectations going in than Caralyn did…)

Writing Style:

Hannah: I put off reading this book because I loved Shiver so much and I didn’t want to be disappointed. Once I picked it up, it took a bit of getting into – but suddenly I felt the grasp of Thisbee Island tighten and I was thoroughly hooked. I think this is how Maggie writes. It’s always subtle, slow, and magical. I love to savor her words, because they are all so beautiful. The story woven here is so decadent that you almost have to go slow, just to let the story, the characters, the settings seep into your mind so you find yourself completely transported into the book.

I think it’s Maggie’s brilliant writing style that creates a perfect place to explore the myth of water horses. I’ve never read anything about these myths, so between this relatively unexplored magic and the gorgeous writing – Maggie has created a timeless story – her own legend that will be important for a very long time.

Caralyn:Agreed. Her writing is so dense, but in a thrilling and catching way. You slowly make your way through her world. Nothing is rushed. No detail is spared in describing the island or the characters’ attitudes toward it. Since I had never read the Shiver series before this I was not used to Maggie’s style of switching between the main characters of the story. Some of the story is documented by Puck, the heroine trying to keep her family together, while the rest is seen through the eyes of Sean, who up until now has only had eyes for horses.

At times it was difficult to keep track of who’s thoughts I was entering because the two characters share similar views and feelings about their home of Thisbee. And I will admit, I had a difficult time pushing through the beginning of the story because the reader is somewhat tossed into the middle of the action with very little explanation, but the story steadily unravels and grips throughout the book.

Caralyn:Something I could never quite grasp about this book was Puck’s older brother, Gabe. Puck has a younger brother also who is flushed out in the book more so than Gabe, who is mostly MIA. Stiefvater does explain a bit of his absence and why he feels the need to leave, but it didn’t quite cut it for me. Family comes off as an important element of the story; the characters are either trying to keep the family they have left together or trying to find a surrogate family if their family is inadequate or nonexistent. Gabe doesn’t follow this mold. He wants to just be on his own, and I just didn’t understand this move. His story was never fully developed throughout the book, which left me confused and ultimately frustrated when nothing really came of him. I think it would’ve made the story stronger and more interesting if Gabe had been given a little bit more depth and personality. His character lay flat on the page.

Hannah:While I definitely think that Gabe's character could have been fleshed out more satisfactorily - I totally got him. One of the major things in this book that I related to were ties to the place you grew up. Puck treats the island as the only place on earth - most of the characters do. So because Gabe was different, he rejects the island and becomes the odd character out. I'm from a small town and one of my best friends was one of those people who couldn't understand why anyone would want to leave. I was Gabe - I wanted out. I get Gabe and I think that the confusion that comes with him (because I admit he was a bit elusive) comes from no longer belonging in the island, or even his own family.

Hannah: If you are having trouble getting into the story, stick with it. I tell you this because the way it unfolds seems impossible. I love that somehow Maggie can write her characters into impossible situations – which just adds layers and complexity to the story. I felt like whatever way this book would end would be terribly sad. I cried. A lot. Even so (I won’t tell you the end) it was one of the best endings of a book. EVER. I’m still marveling over the way I found myself completely entwined with the emotions of two different characters who turned out to be at odds with one another. I wanted them both to win, knowing that whoever lost would have a hard time of it. In situations like this I can generally pick a side, but I loved both Sean and Puck so much – I couldn’t root for one over the other. And as a side note – The villain in this book, Mutt, might be one of the most teeth grinding, wanna punch someone in the throat, scratch my nails down a chalkboard, characters I’ve read in a long time. He really pushed my buttons.

Caralyn:So true. I was also worried about getting to the end of this book knowing that either way, it would end badly for someone; there’s just no getting around it. At the same time, I was going crazy just to get to the race because the entire book is a slow, methodical build-up to this unnaturally quick and dangerous race. Every character seen through the eyes of Puck or Sean adds to the emotion of the upcoming race. You know exactly what each has had to go through in the weeks before the race and just how important it is for both of them to win. Only, one of them won’t.

I think it’s also important to mention the island itself as a character and as a plot device. It’s the driving force of the novel. I was a little confused when I first started reading because Thisbee seems like it should be some small island off the coast of Ireland; all the names are Irish-sounding and talk of the “mainland” gives the impression of a small island community trying to hang on to their own culture before being sucked into the modern mainland. But it’s not. Thisbee is a magical place that falls somewhere between fiction and reality. It seems so real at times that I’d like to start looking for it on a map!

Caralyn:One thing that really struck me while reading this book was the constant theme of ownership and what it truly means to ownsomething. Puck and Sean share this common bond since they are both painfully aware of the things that are important to them and the possessions they have to fight for, which may or may not be tangible things. And even beyond Puck and Sean, Maggie creates this world of the-haves vs. the-have-nots where those who have the most cherish nothing and those with very little are beyond passionate to the point of putting their lives at risk for them. Like Hannah, I was SUPER emotional by the end mainly because one of the characters finally realizes the strength and bond of genuine ownership...and oddly enough it has nothing to do with money.

The importance of what you have and own, for me, is seen in every facet of this story. Everyone wants a piece of the island, but before you take you must sacrifice. This something that the residents of Thisbee know all too well, but outsiders will never understand. Stievfater really delves into the dynamics of this small, tight-knit community and how it is constantly threatened either by those who don’t love it or those that don’t live there. I probably shouldn’t give away any more details, but loving a place so much that you can’t imagine being anywhere else is definitely something I can relate to and I would defend it as well.

Hannah:Well, I think Caralyn covered that pretty well, so I'm going to wrap up here. Basically, we both loved this book - it has earned a permanent spot on the shelf. Thanks for sticking around and reading this massively long post. Now I invite you to join in on our conversation. Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Every month I pick out the top five books I read that month. This month was completely full of awesome books - both new releases and older books. You can see the whole list of books I read by clicking on my "Read in 2012" tab. I read so much this month and this list was a little difficult to generate. A couple, like Under the Never Sky, were no-brainers, but others had to beat out competition. So here's my top five, most awesome reads from January.

1. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

I finished this book almost a week ago and I haven't been able to read. It was that amazing. I was afraid it would be disappointing after it was so hyped up, but it exceeded every expectation I had. If it wasn't only January and if I wasn't an optimist, I'd say this is the best book I'll read all year.

2. Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

A heartbreaking end to a heartbreaking series. I'm going to miss Calla and the pack so much. Check out my review here.

3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

I didn't really know a lot going into this book, but it looked adorable. Plus, I'll probably pick up any book with an English boy. Anyways this turned out to be so wonderful. It had great literary layers that I didn't expect. Read my review here.

4. Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

I finally got around to reading Angelfire and it was fabulous. I had so many Buffy flashbacks while reading this book, so naturally I freaking loved it. Ellie is like a ninja and then she has the angel version of Batman to back her up. How do you not love that? Read my review here.

5. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

I just wish I was friends with Clara. And Tucker. And even Christian. I have so much love for these characters - they kind of are friends (she says without trying to sound like she doesn't have real friends...I do, I swear). I laughed and sobbed my way through this book and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Clara. Read my review here.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Synopsis: All Chelsea wants to
do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an
ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her
heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical
Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too.
Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even
when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should
have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village
could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her
new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s
got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from
the past are doomed to repeat it… (From Goodreads)

This might be the cutest book. Ever. This is the kind of book that you keep around to return to when you've had a really bad day and you need something to cheer you up. It's like watching When Harry Met Sally when you're nostalgic or watching TheNotebook when you need to cry. When you want to be happy, read Past Perfect. I think I grinned through 3/4ths of this novel - either for its extreme cuteness or because the sense of humor was just perfect.

I picked up this book because of the cover (no shame) and for its premise. A teen girl who grew up working at a colonial reenactment village? Genius. First, it's a summer job, so it's full of teens - which equals plenty of drama. And what makes it even more marvelous is that there's another historical reenactment village right across the street. So there's a rivalry. It's all the things you love to see in a good contemporary novel, but it's all fresh and fun and wonderful. And, nearly the whole book takes place in costume.

The best part about the setting is it allows the great juxtaposition of the past and present happening at the same time. This is the genius of the book. It's all about leaving the past in the past, but still knowing or trying to find out what happened in order to learn from it. Or moving forward when you still have ties to that past. Then there's that moment where she brings up something you've always known but haven't been able to put into words. Leila Sales talks about our revisionist records of the past - she puts it into the perfect context so that the concept is graspable (if that's a word). It comes down to - we remember the past how we want to. And Leila Sales opens up that door to rethink the past and what we remember.

If you love contemporary, or even if you read it but don't pick it up very often, I definitely recommend this book. It's just so wonderful - and I know that I'll be revisiting it again someday. It still makes me smile just thinking about it.

So here's the deal. I'm thinking there are a lot of great sequels coming out soon. One (1) winner will receive their choice of the following sequels. If the book has not been released yet I will pre-order it for you. If you win and really would rather

have the first book in one of these series, I'd be good with that.

Alright, the details:

One (1) winner will get his/her choice of one (1) of the sequels listed above.

You must be 13 or older to enter.

This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but it is always appreciated!

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.

This contest will run until February 1, 12:01 AM.

Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Synopsis: Eden didn’t expect Az.Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.Yeah.So long happily-ever-after.Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.And that’s only the beginning of the end. (From Goodreads)

This is not a cheery book. It's gritty, a bit vulgar, and completely angry. Which, ultimately, equals awesome. Mostly because it fits so well. Eden is a character I don't feel like I've read before. She's completely in command, a little frightening, strong-willed, smart, and prone to hissy-fits. Even those things don't completely describe her - because after this whole book - I feel like I don't know her (or any of the characters really). And I'm not saying this in a bad way - I'm saying that she kept me on my toes - I was always surprised at her reactions and decisions. Every time I thought I'd figured her out, it seemed like she'd changed the game.

Not gonna lie. The beginning of this book had me very skeptical. I was really afraid that it would just be over the top and melodramatic. It started a little rushed, and a little too quick. I was confused for a bit. But there's a point - and you don't realize it's happened until later - that everything shakes into place and then you find that you've been completely sucked in for the last 100 pages with out even knowing it.

Another thing that was surprisingly fresh about this book was the plot. I've begun to notice a similarity in plot arcs. Girl meets boy. Girl falls for boy. Boy reveals big problem. Boy and girl can't be together because of said problem. Boy and girl are likely attacked a few times. Then there's a big, huge showdown at the end. There's a curveball thrown in - not necessarily to shock, but to keep the reader in a state of curiosity so they'll read the next book. I didn't get that with this book. This plot was chaotic and it didn't always make sense. BUT again, I say this as a good thing. Because really, life doesn't happen in neat arcs. It's hard to explain the pattern of this plot, but then again, it doesn't really have a pattern. Which, just like Eve's character, kept me on my toes.

The thing is, these characters are kind of the bad guys. Which, I had to stop and remind myself of that a few times. The reason they're still relatable, the reason they are redeemed is because they don't choose to be bad (depending on which way you look at it). The more I read of these characters the more I fell for them. A Touch Morbid is the second book in this series will be out February 28. (And a little secret - or not so secret - if you pre-order the book from Leah Clifford's local indie, The Learned Owl, you can get a signed, personalized copy -). I also highly recommend following Leah on Twitter - she does live chats quite often and she's fun to watch and talk with - and I always find out about these things through Twitter. But back to the book - I definitely recommend this if you don't mind characters who find their wardrobe in graveyards, evil rockstars, or lots of potentially fatal kissing.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Synopsis: For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought.Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning. (From Goodreads)

This series just keeps getting better. I love how things start out seeming so simple and then suddenly you realize that you only know about this small part in a whole tangle of mess that seems impossible. Unearthly seemed so simple compared to Hallowed and I'm assuming that it's only going to get worse from here. And I love it!

Clara totally makes this series. She's the perfect heroine - because she isn't perfect. She lies, she's a little self-centered, she has tunnel vision in some cases - plus she acts, thinks, and thinks like a normal teenage girl. She sneaks out of the house, gets caught in places she shouldn't be. And what is so great, is that even though she becomes more powerful and more in tune to who she is as an angel and a supernatural being - she still stays that normal teenage girl. She's so grounded and it makes her more of a best friend, than an intimidatingly unapproachable heroine.

Of course, Tucker, is a huge part of this awesomeness of these books. So perfect. Although, I hate to admit it, but Christian actually (very surprisingly) gave him a run for his money at moments. Plus, I love the new characters that pop up in this book as well, and I can't wait to see more of them.

If you read Unearthly keep going. Hallowed lives up to its hype. It's every bit as good as the first book, if not actually better. It's hard to tell, because I think they're both pretty exceptional. I will say that this book is a little more heartbreaking though. I think I cried through half of it - so, just a warning, you may want to be prepared. You know, maybe try not to read it in public.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Synopsis: It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in. And then you're dead. When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest. Because how will she go on if there isn't? (From Goodreads)

Not even kidding - ever since I've read this book I've been über paranoid. First, I've been seriously itchy all the time (that sounds gross, I know, but it's not that bad, I swear). I've been having random attacks of the back itches and the face itches (you know, when I have my gloves on and can't effectively itch). The itch you can't shake is the first stage of this disease. The next is the tickle in the throat...uhhhh....yeah. But all these things can be explained because of other things. Then I started coughing today and I was just like - ok, this is it, I have the virus and I'm going to die.

I'm such a hypochondriac sometimes.

But this isn't about me (at least not all the time) - this is about the book. Which, I ultimately had mixed feelings about. It's written in an epistolary/journal style, which I'm not always fond of. However, I really feel like that works here. I think a lot of people, including myself, have written those letters-I'll-never-send and that's what this whole book starts out as. It starts as a way to heal what broke in Kaelyn after a friendship/potentially-more-than-friendship ends. It's in those crucial first pages, when it's more of a letter than a journal, that I really connected with Kaelyn and came to care about her.

But in the end I was really confused and I didn't feel satisfied with the way it ended. I had so many questions. I get that you don't always get answers and often answers are left out on purpose - generally, I'm pretty down with that - but in this case it felt more like something was lacking, rather than being purposefully unanswered.

I could say great things about this book and I can point out things that I really didn't like. This is one that I'm on the fence about and I don't see myself swinging one way or the other. I do have to say that, even so, I read it about a week ago and I'm still thinking about it (even if it is just every time I get an itch or I cough). Books that are like this - the ones that deal with disastrous situations - always make you wonder what you would do if it were you. If nothing else, The Way We Fall, puts you there and - well, I kind of wonder. Are you the one who does everything possible to help? Do you steal food? Do you shoot people like they're zombies? Do you become desperate and reckless? It's interesting to think about, but not ever something you want to test.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Synopsis: Calla has always
welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at
stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s
wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor.
There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors,
and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then
there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out
alive, that is.
In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times
bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns
that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A
dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.

I've been worrying for days about what I was going to say about this
last installment in the Nightshade trilogy - it's so huge, and it feels so important, that anything I have to say will never quite be enough. So I've decided that I'm not
going to do a traditional review for this one - instead, I'm going to
just going to mention a few things.
I'm so utterly heartbroken. This whole series sent me through crazy emotions, complete pain and frustration, and it devastated me. And I'm so in love with it. It must be some masochist thing, because Andrea Cremer can torture me anytime. Seriously. I don't know how often I ever felt elated, or hopeful, or any kind of positive emotion towards the last two books, but I was just so addicted. Every good moment had a tinge of something else that was lost or jeopardized. I ended this series with that conflicting - I'm so glad to know how it ends, but I already miss these characters so much.

That's all I'm really going to say. I feel closure, but I'm still mourning the end of this trilogy. I really can't wait to see what Andrea Cremer writes next because I'll read anything she writes.
And if you haven't started reading this series yet - you need to drop everything your doing and get to it.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Synopsis: First there are nightmares.Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.
Then come the memories.When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering
something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic,
and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her
seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's
power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in
the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole
lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend
anything was just a dream.
Now she must hunt.Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and
kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the
dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also
hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too
frightening to remember. (From Goodreads)

I actually picked up this book because of all the raving about it's sequel, Wings of the Wicked that is coming out at the end of January. Not to mention, Ellie and Will are nominated in a few categories for the Best of 2011 over at the Story Siren. So I knew there was going to be some great things going on in this book and it lived up to all its hype.

I intended to just spend the morning reading, but pretty soon I was ripping through this book and didn't put it down until I had finished. First of all, I freaking love Ellie. There is nothing weak about this girl - she has like ninja super powers, but she's still so human and relatable. She's vulnerable, but not so much that you worry about her falling prey to the wrong kind of people. And Will, I love that this boy literally exists to protect and serve Ellie, but he's not clingy or around all the time. Ellie calls him Batman all the time, so, of course, I totally pictured a blonde Christian Bale.

There aren't any nice-playing, change of heart demons here. There are monsters and evil plots that Ellie has to face and she does the job wonderfully. She definitely struggles, but she always steps up to the challenge. There was more than one time where I made connections to Buffy - seeing as in both cases we're talking about the one person who has the power to vanquish evil. Any connection to Buffy is automatic awesome.

I can already see why people would be raving about Wings of the Wicked and I can't wait to see where Ellie and Will are taken next.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old high
school senior Shannon Card needs money. And lots of it. She's been
admitted to Wellesley, but her dad just lost his job, and somehow she
has to come up with a year of tuition herself. But Shannon's dream of
making big bucks waitressing at the local casino, the Collosio,
disappears faster than a gambler's lucky streak. Her boss is a tyrant,
her coworker is nuts, and her chances of balancing a tray full of drinks
while wearing high-heeled shoes are slim to none. Worse, time is
running out, and Shannon hasn't made even half the money she'd hoped.When
Shannon receives a mysterious invitation to join Aces Up, a secret
network of highly talented college poker players, at first she thinks No way.
She has enough to worry about: keeping her job, winning the coveted
math scholarship at school, and tutoring her secret crush, Max. But when
Shannon musters up the nerve to kiss Max and he doesn't react at all,
the allure of Aces Up and its sexy eighteen-year-old leader, Cole, is
suddenly too powerful to ignore.Soon Shannon's caught up in a
web of lies and deceit that makes worrying about tuition money or a high
school crush seem like kid stuff. Still, when the money's this good, is
the fear of getting caught reason enough to fold? (From Goodreads)

I adore Lauren Barnholdt. I fell in love with Two-Way Street and I feel like I can always count on her for enjoyable, quick reads. I think it's really great when I find books that should be nothing like my life, but they totally are. Which is what this was. I mean, there's no way I'm good enough at math to count cards, not to mention I'm scared to death to even sit down at a poker table. But still there were moments when I couldn't help but notice that Shannon and I had some things in common.

First, my friends and I occasionally used to pass the time by playing penny poker in the summer after we'd all gotten off work. We would sit at a picnic table in town and friends would randomly come by and join in. Those nights were among some of my best high school memories. I also related to Shannon's relationship with Max, except those two were definitely on a different timeline that I was. I think if I had read this book 5 years ago, I would have been freaking out about the similarites. This book deals mostly with working through your issues, working hard and doing it the right way. Shannon tries to take the easy way out and she winds up with a lot of trouble coming her way. If you ever need something light to read, something that doesn't take energy, but doesn't turn your brain to mush, either - I recommend reading Lauren Barnholdt. I liked Two-Way Street and The One Night that Changes Everything better, but Aces Up is worth a read.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Book Blogger Confessions is a new meme hosted by Tiger's All Consuming Media or For What It's Worth. What is it? It's a meme that allows bloggers to weigh in on a topic, talk about or own blogging experiences and maybe vent a little. This time we're talking about reading/blogging slumps. The question: Have you ever had reading/blogging slumps? How do you work through them or work around them?

Well, I have to say that I think I'm just coming out of a slump. This last semester, I was going crazy. I was teaching for the first time, trying to keep up in grad classes that I just didn't care about anymore, and dealing with an upcoming backwards move. I was trying to figure out what I wanted out of life (still don't know) and I was just not a happy person for awhile. My bright light was (and is) young adult literature and I clung to it. Even so, with all this going on in the background, the reading and blogging was starting to feel like a chore. I was putting off reading books and if you were visiting my blog about a month ago, I had a list of Upcoming Reviews that was about 10 books long. Some of my reviews suffered because I wrote them so long after I read the book. I was just trying to get through from one day to another - both on the blog and in life.

Then for awhile I had to seriously examine why I was doing this - the blogging thing. When I started it seemed like such an obvious thing for me to do. But there's been so much negativity floating around lately, to the point where I'm nervous posting anything. Honestly, with the way some people talk on Twitter, I'm waiting for someone to tear into something that I do. I really hate that feeling that I have to be so careful about the way that I'm running my own blog that I feel like I'm holding back or trying to fit into a box, and sometimes it is too much pressure. But then I go back to why I started and it was to write my thoughts on the book I was reading (because my memory is short) and it was a way to hold myself accountable to recording my reactions. And of course, it's a way to share the books that I love with anyone I possibly can. While it's important what others think of my blog - I want people to feel comfortable visiting, free to comment, and I definitely don't want to make someone cranky - I've come to realize that there is always plenty of criticism out there, and I just have to keep going and remember that I'm doing this for the books and authors I love and the readers who are looking for the next amazing read.

In some ways I still am in this weird limbo place where I don't know where I'm going - but I'm not teaching anymore or taking classes, so I feel hugely relieved in some respects. I've been able to just curl up and read. Plus, I spent Christmas vacation shortening my to-be-reviewed list and cranking out posts. By New Years I was completely caught up and I started the new year with a fresh slate. Even better, my incredibly talented little brother helped me put up a new design for the blog and I'm so happy with the way it looks now. (How do you get out of a slump? Get a makeover!) Now I'm getting back into memes, I'm keeping up with my reviews and happily working my way through my TBR pile.

Ok - apparently I had more to say than I thought I did. But what do you think? Have you ever been in a slump? Reading, blogging or otherwise? How do you get through?

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Synopsis: Delaney Collins doesn't believe in fairy tales. And why should she? Her mom is dead, her best friend is across the country, and she's stuck in California with "Dr. Hank," her famous life-coach father—a man she barely knows. Happily ever after? Yeah, right.Then Dr. Hank tells her an outrageous secret: he's a fairy godmother—an f.g.—and he can prove it. And by the way? The f.g. gene is hereditary. Meaning there's a good chance that New Jersey tough girl Delaney is someone's fairy godmother.But what happens when a fairy godmother needs a wish of her own?

This book had a ton of potential - it was a great idea - and it had moments that felt like they held importance. But much of it was fashioned as a sieve and those important moments fell through very quickly. It started out so strong - it felt carefully planned, tightly written, and the protagonist was one that had awesome power (even if it was only in saying whatever she wanted to say), but it felt like as the story went on the threads were knit together more loosely.

I love the idea of telling a story about a fairy godmother - but I wanted to know more about where their magic came from and why there are few fairy godmothers left. The magic, though, was so much fun. Watching Delaney practice was the best part of this book. There were great moments where she's trying to help people with small magic and she's stalking around trying to practice magical movements. It was like watching an episode of I Love Lucy - if Lucy were 15 and liked to wear black. I kept thinking that this would probably be a great TV show - there's great comedy and something really great in a gothic - I hate the world - kind of girl who has to fix other people's problems.

One thing that did really bother me was the fact that the book jumps off when Delany's mother dies and she has to move from New Jersey to Southern California to live with her estranged father. I figured her tough girl act was a front to try to deal with the death of her mother. I expected her to confront those feelings once her walls started to come down, but it rarely goes there. It didn't feel at all like her mother died and it feels a little wrong that that aspect was so glossed over.

I do wish this story had been fleshed out more - there could have been more elaboration and it has the potential to be a really rich story. However, the one thing it tries to get across is eventually apparent, only because it's repeated quite a bit. That is that getting to know people is to open yourself up to others - and that people might surprise you with all the things the keep hidden under the surface. I'd recommend it to both fans of fantasy or contemporary, as it blends the two - and I encourage you to read it for yourself (as I'm realizing now that my issues with the book may be because I read it with the wrong age group in mind - it may be better suited for middle grade readers).

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Synopsis: When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

It seems like this book is EVERYWHERE lately and I love it. It makes total sense - not only is the story unique - the author herself has an incredible self-empowering story. The Trylle series was self-published and a huge success. Switched was just recently released through St. Martin's press and the other books in the series will be released in February and March. I think I would have picked this book up eventually - I'm running into it all over the place, and have you seen that cover? It's so gorgeous and mesmerizing.

But this book was bumped to the top of my reading list because it takes place in Minnesota. I actually watched the trailer and paused it when I thought I saw a flash of Minnesota - and funnily enough, I stopped it on the Minnesota State Mental Ward sign. Which means I was so in. I take to anything that is set in Minnesota because, obviously, I relate. I'm proud of where I'm from and sometimes I think my entire state is just a story waiting to happen - so it makes me happy when people tap into the stories this place holds.

I also loved that Amanda Hocking creates a fantasy that could have been lost in the slush of stereotypes, but she doesn't ever give into that. First of all - trolls? Well done. I would have never considered trolls to be a viable fantasy story - and I should have! Even beyond the unique creatures, she still doesn't give into other tropes. Sure, there's the forbidden love, but there are so many other factors that are going on around that relationship that it isn't the main concern. And the ending of this book made me want to applaud - mostly because it seems that this heroine did what never seems to cross any other heroine's mind.

I do have to admit that there were quite a few moments in this book that were lacking. I got the distinct sense that the author had the image in her mind very clearly, but didn't quite portray it completely to the reader. I felt this mostly while Wendy is falling for Finn and Finn is revealing Wendy's identity. A lot of Wendy's internal process is missing, so her decisions feel rushed.

Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds. Here's the trailer for Switched:

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Synopsis: When Finley travels to Ireland as a foreign exchange student, she hopes to create a new identity and get some answers from the God who took her brother away and seems to have left her high and dry. But from the moment she boards the plane and sits by Beckett Rush, teen star of the hottest vampire flicks, nothing goes according to Finley's plan. When she gets too close to Beckett, a classmate goes on a mission to make sure Finley packs her bags, departs Ireland-and leaves Beckett alone. Finley feels the pressure all around. As things start to fall apart, she begins to rely on a not-so-healthy method of taking control of her life. Finley tries to balance it all-disasters on the set of Beckett's new movie, the demands of school, and her growing romance with one actor who is not what he seems. Yet Finley is also not who she portrays to Beckett and her friends. For the first time in her life, Finley must get honest with herself to get right with God.

I know I've said this before, but I so need to move to Ireland. The reason I was so drawn to this book was because of it's location. Although, it does seem like I'm reading a lot of books about coping with death these days - I'm not really meaning to, they're just sort of falling across my TBR piles and beckoning to me. This particular one impressed me quite a bit, as it wasn't overly preachy and it dealt with life in general, and death is a part of that. This book could have so easily fallen into the trap of stereotypes, but it seemed to actually embrace those stereotypes and turn them into the truth.

During the set-up of Kinley's story, I thought I knew everything that was going to happen. But I still kept reading - why? - because I think this book expertly demonstrates the concept of - it's not the destination, but the journey. I knew where Kinley was headed, but I was so curious how she got there. And near the end I was really surprised at the detours she was taking. I'd expected this book to be about healing - which it is - but it's also about how sometimes things need to get worse before they get better.

The setting is what really makes this book. There are a lot of elements of this book that could easily b cheesy, and I think the fact that this is all happening in the quaint, magical Ireland it all seems so natural. It makes total sense to me that you'd go to Ireland to heal and find that everything is falling apart (which, even though you can't see it at the time, is essential to the healing). I was worried about the normal girl falling for the movie star thing - but I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship (and the subtle digs to the over-the top vampire movie fad). But I think it would be harder to love him in any other setting, if that makes sense. Not to mention, Finely's host family wouldn't be the same in any other place. I loved them all from the moment they picked up Finley at the airport.

This isn't a book like I've read in a very long time. It's clean and very spiritual. It's a great reminder that morals don't have to be compromised to have crazy butterfly feelings. But even in all this it never feels like religion is shoved down your throat and it still takes into consideration that not everything is black and white. There's so much to find in this book, no matter what you are going through in your own life.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Synopsis: Frannie Cavanaugh is a
good Catholic girl with a bit of a wicked streak. She has spent years
keeping everyone at a distance---even her closest friends---and it seems
as if her senior year is going to be more of the same . . . until Luc
Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie
can’t seem to stay away from him. What she doesn’t know is that
Luc is on a mission. He’s been sent from Hell itself to claim Frannie’s
soul. It should be easy---all he has to do is get her to sin, and Luc is
as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn’t stand a chance. But he has to
work fast, because if the infernals are after her, the celestials can’t
be far behind. And sure enough, it’s not long before the angel Gabriel
shows up, willing to do anything to keep Luc from getting what he came
for. It isn’t long before they find themselves fighting for more than
just Frannie’s soul.But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay . . . for all of them.

I really wanted to love this book. I've seen nothing but raving about it everywhere, so I was really excited to finally get around to it. And I have to admit, I feel a little let down. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it, I just think my expectations were too high going in.

This book is told from both Frannie and Luc's perspective, which I was wary about at first, but then I became very glad it was structured that way. The relationship between them was the core of the book and what really made it good. Their changing dynamics that are influenced both by their own personal feelings and the ulterior motives of Heaven and Hell were fascinating to watch. However, Gabriel was a huge part of this book - Frannie is torn between the two boys - but I don't feel like I ever really knew anything about him. I knew everything about Luc, because we get his perspective, but other than knowing Gabrielle's purpose, there's little indication of what he's thinking or feeling. In that sense it felt a little off balance.

I absolutely loved the first half of the book and went to find a copy of Original Sin within the first 150 pages because I was already anticipating that I was going to want to know what happened next. But by the time I reached the end, I felt a sense of closure and I can't even imagine where it's going to go next. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading, just because I think this book was great on its own, and I'm not curious enough to see where it will go from here.

Personal Demons is the first in a trilogy - Original Sin is the second book and the third, Last Rite, is due for release on May 8, 2012.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Synopsis: Today should be one
of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's
stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place
in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never
even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped
waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C.
Hadley's in 18A. Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in
this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and
first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will
make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it

If I had written down every line that resonated with me, that made my skin tingle, made me sigh, made me fall in love - I would have taken days to finish reading - and in fact - probably would have just copied out the whole book. Even without recording every moment, I still went back and re-read scenes, passages, pages over and over. I needed to savor every moment. And each word that Jennifer E. Smith put into this book was so clearly refined, put there for a specific purpose, every last one working as a small but important piece in a larger picture.

I've never believed in love at first sight. Still don't. I believe you can be attracted to someone right away, that a first attraction can be so intense - unlike anything you've felt before - and that it can turn into love, but I don't believe you can meet someone and instantly be in love. I expected to read this book and think - yup, uh huh, no way that could ever happen. But I didn't. It all felt so natural and it made it feel like love in the future between Hadley and Oliver was a real possibility. I really liked that they spent time talking, getting to know each other and helping one another through difficult circumstances, but they didn't obviously just jump into a relationship because it was instant attraction. Plus, it wasn't really even instant attraction, Hadley hardly notices him at first, but it is an attraction that develops quickly.

Even better, this book had depths that were so unexpected. I think the longer Hadley knows Oliver, the more she heals a part of herself - he's a symbol of her reconciliation of what was still broken within her after her parent's divorce. More unexpectedly, this book is about fathers - and all the flashbacks that Hadley has to a time when she and her father were really close - definitely stirred the tears. I was surprised that even though Hadley lives with her mother, there isn't much about her mother in this book. It's about her dad and coming to terms with the decisions he's made and what their relationship has turned into.

Hadley is an exemplary character, who really comes into herself and grows up through these 24 hours. And of course I can't deny, I freaking love Oliver - I mean, he's British, sarcastic, adorable, and slightly mysterious. I just love this book so much, it makes me happy and teary just thinking about it.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Synopsis: It was a beautiful, warm summer day, the day Danny died.Suddenly Wren was alone and shattered. In a heartbroken fury, armed with dark incantations and a secret power, Wren decides that what she wants—what she must do—is to bring Danny back.But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy Wren fell in love with. His touch is icy; his skin, smooth and stiff as marble; his chest, cruelly silent when Wren rests her head against it.Wren must keep Danny a secret, hiding him away, visiting him at night, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school, and Wren realizes that somehow, inexplicably, he can sense the powers that lie within her—and that he knows what she has done. And now Gabriel wants to help make things right.But Wren alone has to undo what she has wrought—even if it means breaking her heart all over again.

Well, I have to say that this book is thoroughly depressing. Hopeful moments are short and hard to come by. However, it's also incredibly gorgeous. There were sentences that I stopped to read over and over because they were so beautiful. It's a story told with the impression that every word was carefully chosen and placed to convey the exact tone and image.

The plot is subtle, but this book isn't great because of it's plot. It's great because of the writing and because of the internal workings of Wren as she is dealing with loss. She is mourning just like any one else would in her situation, except she has his physical being to deal with. She gets to wrap herself up in him where others might cling to a sweatshirt of a lost loved one at night. I've never had to go through losing someone like this and I'd like to think I'll never have to go through anything like this - but if it ever happens, I think I'd find a friend in Wren. I feel like I went through the grieving process with her - just maybe in a more muted way. The tone was definitely impressive. Dealing with death, raising your dead boyfriend, then having to deal with an empty shell of a person, could so easily be overly-dramatic.

Wren grows in so many ways, she gets through so much, through this entire book - she learns to ask for what she needs and she begins to embrace the people who love her, reminding her that she's still alive and she hasn't lost everything. But the most important lesson is that a lack of knowledge can be completely dangerous. Not understanding something is worse than knowing too much sometimes. Most of Wren's problems originate with her powers. She has these mysterious powers within her that she knows nothing about. Her mother has them too, but refuses to talk about them. This in juxtaposition with the sex-talk she does take the time to have with her daughter, and the refusing to talk about the powers - goes to show how important it is to be open, to inform, to educate.

I recommend this book - but I warn you to only read it if you don't mind reading something a little dreary. It took a little control to get through because everything was just so sad. There is hope by the end, but there's still a lot of pain left over.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Welcome to my stop on the Young Adult Faeries and Fantasy Giveaway Hop. The hop is hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writerand tons of other blogs are participating. To see the full list and hop along for the chance to win some great books go HERE.

So, what's up for grabs here? The first two books in one of my favorite fantasy series -Graceling and Fire! There will be two winners - both will get their choice between the two books.

Graceling and Fire

Alright, the details:

Two (2) winners will get his/her choice of one (1) of the books in The Seven Kingdoms series.

You must be 13 or older to enter.

This giveaway is international as long as the Book Depository ships to you.

You do not have to be a follower to enter, but it is always appreciated!

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below - you can only enter once.

This contest will run until January 13, 12:01 AM.

Winner will be announced by email - if you win you have 48 hours to respond before I pick a new winner.

Good luck and thanks for entering!

P.S. If you feel like commenting - I'd love to know what your favorite fantastical creature is! Mine? - Team Werewolf all the way.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Synopsis: It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen

Caralyn, Ramon, and Hannah

I’m really excited about this – it’s the first joint review here at In the Best Worlds. My very good friend, Caralyn is new(ish) to the YA world. She read The Hunger Games this summer and then couldn’t stop – she’s fallen for The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Divergent, thoroughly enjoyed The Name of the Star and now she’s making her way through the Shiver series. We both read The Scorpio Races at the same time and we always have awesome book discussions, so I invited her to join me in putting our conversation down in print. She’s turned into one of us YA fanatics, so I’m so happy to welcome her here to share her first review.

(Interesting thing to keep in mind: I read The Scorpio Races after reading and loving the Shiver series. Caralyn read The Scorpio Races first. I don’t know how that would tint the reading, but I’m sure it did somehow – I do think I had higher expectations going in than Caralyn did…)

Writing Style:

Hannah: I put off reading this book because I loved Shiver so much and I didn’t want to be disappointed. Once I picked it up, it took a bit of getting into – but suddenly I felt the grasp of Thisbee Island tighten and I was thoroughly hooked. I think this is how Maggie writes. It’s always subtle, slow, and magical. I love to savor her words, because they are all so beautiful. The story woven here is so decadent that you almost have to go slow, just to let the story, the characters, the settings seep into your mind so you find yourself completely transported into the book.

I think it’s Maggie’s brilliant writing style that creates a perfect place to explore the myth of water horses. I’ve never read anything about these myths, so between this relatively unexplored magic and the gorgeous writing – Maggie has created a timeless story – her own legend that will be important for a very long time.

Caralyn:Agreed. Her writing is so dense, but in a thrilling and catching way. You slowly make your way through her world. Nothing is rushed. No detail is spared in describing the island or the characters’ attitudes toward it. Since I had never read the Shiver series before this I was not used to Maggie’s style of switching between the main characters of the story. Some of the story is documented by Puck, the heroine trying to keep her family together, while the rest is seen through the eyes of Sean, who up until now has only had eyes for horses.

At times it was difficult to keep track of who’s thoughts I was entering because the two characters share similar views and feelings about their home of Thisbee. And I will admit, I had a difficult time pushing through the beginning of the story because the reader is somewhat tossed into the middle of the action with very little explanation, but the story steadily unravels and grips throughout the book.

Caralyn:Something I could never quite grasp about this book was Puck’s older brother, Gabe. Puck has a younger brother also who is flushed out in the book more so than Gabe, who is mostly MIA. Stiefvater does explain a bit of his absence and why he feels the need to leave, but it didn’t quite cut it for me. Family comes off as an important element of the story; the characters are either trying to keep the family they have left together or trying to find a surrogate family if their family is inadequate or nonexistent. Gabe doesn’t follow this mold. He wants to just be on his own, and I just didn’t understand this move. His story was never fully developed throughout the book, which left me confused and ultimately frustrated when nothing really came of him. I think it would’ve made the story stronger and more interesting if Gabe had been given a little bit more depth and personality. His character lay flat on the page.

Hannah:While I definitely think that Gabe's character could have been fleshed out more satisfactorily - I totally got him. One of the major things in this book that I related to were ties to the place you grew up. Puck treats the island as the only place on earth - most of the characters do. So because Gabe was different, he rejects the island and becomes the odd character out. I'm from a small town and one of my best friends was one of those people who couldn't understand why anyone would want to leave. I was Gabe - I wanted out. I get Gabe and I think that the confusion that comes with him (because I admit he was a bit elusive) comes from no longer belonging in the island, or even his own family.

Hannah: If you are having trouble getting into the story, stick with it. I tell you this because the way it unfolds seems impossible. I love that somehow Maggie can write her characters into impossible situations – which just adds layers and complexity to the story. I felt like whatever way this book would end would be terribly sad. I cried. A lot. Even so (I won’t tell you the end) it was one of the best endings of a book. EVER. I’m still marveling over the way I found myself completely entwined with the emotions of two different characters who turned out to be at odds with one another. I wanted them both to win, knowing that whoever lost would have a hard time of it. In situations like this I can generally pick a side, but I loved both Sean and Puck so much – I couldn’t root for one over the other. And as a side note – The villain in this book, Mutt, might be one of the most teeth grinding, wanna punch someone in the throat, scratch my nails down a chalkboard, characters I’ve read in a long time. He really pushed my buttons.

Caralyn:So true. I was also worried about getting to the end of this book knowing that either way, it would end badly for someone; there’s just no getting around it. At the same time, I was going crazy just to get to the race because the entire book is a slow, methodical build-up to this unnaturally quick and dangerous race. Every character seen through the eyes of Puck or Sean adds to the emotion of the upcoming race. You know exactly what each has had to go through in the weeks before the race and just how important it is for both of them to win. Only, one of them won’t.

I think it’s also important to mention the island itself as a character and as a plot device. It’s the driving force of the novel. I was a little confused when I first started reading because Thisbee seems like it should be some small island off the coast of Ireland; all the names are Irish-sounding and talk of the “mainland” gives the impression of a small island community trying to hang on to their own culture before being sucked into the modern mainland. But it’s not. Thisbee is a magical place that falls somewhere between fiction and reality. It seems so real at times that I’d like to start looking for it on a map!

Caralyn:One thing that really struck me while reading this book was the constant theme of ownership and what it truly means to ownsomething. Puck and Sean share this common bond since they are both painfully aware of the things that are important to them and the possessions they have to fight for, which may or may not be tangible things. And even beyond Puck and Sean, Maggie creates this world of the-haves vs. the-have-nots where those who have the most cherish nothing and those with very little are beyond passionate to the point of putting their lives at risk for them. Like Hannah, I was SUPER emotional by the end mainly because one of the characters finally realizes the strength and bond of genuine ownership...and oddly enough it has nothing to do with money.

The importance of what you have and own, for me, is seen in every facet of this story. Everyone wants a piece of the island, but before you take you must sacrifice. This something that the residents of Thisbee know all too well, but outsiders will never understand. Stievfater really delves into the dynamics of this small, tight-knit community and how it is constantly threatened either by those who don’t love it or those that don’t live there. I probably shouldn’t give away any more details, but loving a place so much that you can’t imagine being anywhere else is definitely something I can relate to and I would defend it as well.

Hannah:Well, I think Caralyn covered that pretty well, so I'm going to wrap up here. Basically, we both loved this book - it has earned a permanent spot on the shelf. Thanks for sticking around and reading this massively long post. Now I invite you to join in on our conversation. Leave a comment and let us know what you thought!